Footlets and method of making same



Aug. 26, 1958 N. H. GOODMAN FOOTLETS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Jan. 14, 1954 FIGJ 1N VEN TOR. NORMA/V H. GOODMAN M/EM AQM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O z,s4s,sss

FooTLETs AND METHOD or MAKING SAME Norman H. Goodman, New York, N. Y., assignor to Triumph Hosiery Mills, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of N ew York Application January 14, 1954, Serial No. 403,954

9 Claims. (Cl. 66-171) "This invention relates generally to improvements in toot covering articles or footlets and method of making the same.

One object of the present invention is the provision of :an improved method of making a foot covering article or the like from a flat blank knit on a conventional fullfashioned hosiery machine. Pursuant to this object of the present invention a flat blank having integrally inter connected portions is knit on a full-fashioned hosiery machine and said portions are subsequently secured together in a manner to be described hereinafter to form an article of wearing apparel of the aforenoted character.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved method of making a foot covering article of the above character which is inherently simple, and which readily lends itself to efficient and economical mass production.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of improved foot covering articles, or the like, which are of full-fashioned construction to provide a superior fit, present an aesthetically attractive appearance, and which are eminently suitable for their intended purpose.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawing which illustrates the best mode now contemplated by me of carrying out my invention:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a flat blank from which the foot covering article of the present invention is made;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a foot covering article formed according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the inter-knitting of an elastic yarn with the blank of Fig. l at the foot opening;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 6 is a top perspective view of the foot covering article.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the foot covering article or footlet 10 is formed from a blank 12 which is knit in the fiat on a conventional full-fashioned hosiery machine. The flat knit blank 12 may be formed of any suitable material and in the preferred embodiment said blank is formed of elastic nylon which is also commonly known as Helanca processed nylon, said material being preferred because of its elastic properties. The fiat knit blank 12 comprises a pair of similar longitudinally extending portions 14 and 16 which are integrally interconnected at both ends thereof as indicated at 18 and 20, it being understood that blank 12 is knit in the flat to provide said integrally interconnected portions 14 and 16. The elastic nylon full-fashioned flat blank 12 is knit to the desired size and shape and the integral portions 14 and 16 are interconnected at opposite ends thereof as in- 3 2,848,885 Cfi Patented Aug. 26, 1 58 dicated at 18 and 21 the end 1% of said blank being adapted to form the toe part 22 of footlet 1i] and the end 20 of said blank being adapted to form the heel part 24 of the finished footlet. The forward or toe end 18 of blank 12 will have full-fashioned narrowings as indicated at 26, and the heel end 20 of said blank will also have full-fashioned narrowings as indicated at 28. The toe end 18 of blank 12 will also have a looping line 30 of narrowing marks approaching close to the selvage as clearly shown in Fig. 1, in the region of the full-fashioned narrowings indicated at 26, it being understood that said full-fashioned narrowings are formed in a conventional manner on a full-fashioned hosiery machine in knitting the blank 12 to a predetermined size and shape. The integrally interconnected portions 14 and 16 have outside peripherally extending free selvage edges 32 which extend from the point 34 of the toe end 18 to substantially the point 36 in the region of the end 20 of blank 12. Accordingly, the free selvage edges 32 of the portions 14 and 16 extends at least from the region of the end 18 of blank 12 to a point 36 short of the heel end point 38 thereof. The peripherally extending free edges 41) of the portions 14 and 16, which extend from the peripheral points 36 to the heel end point 38 of blank 12, may be unfinished in that the heel end 20 of blank 12 is cut and sewn to form the article 10, as will be subsequently described in detail. Accordingly the peripherally extending edges 32 are selvage edges whereas the peripherally extending edges 411 at the heel end 20 of blank 12 may be unfinished edges. The portions 14 and 16 also define inside free marginal edges 42 which are adapted to define the foot opening 44 of the finished footlet 10. The inside free marginal edges 42 of the portions 14 and 16 are elasticized and for this purpose an elastic yarn may be secured to said edges in any desired manner, as by means of a stitching operation. Pursuant to thejpreferred embodiment of the present invention, an elastic yarn 46 is inter-knit with the portions 14 and 16 at the edges 42 as illustrated in Fig. 4 whereby to form continuously elasticized edges 42, which in the completed article 10 define a continuously elasticized foot opening 44. Thus the portions 14 and 16 are provided with inside continuous longitudinally extending elasticized marginal edges 42, the latter having elastic yarn 46 continuously interknit therewith to form the continuously elasticized foot opening 44. Accordingly an elastic yarn 46 may be integrated with the longitudinally extending inside edges 42 of portions 14 and 16 in any desired manner, as by means of the aforedescribed interknit between said elastic yarn and the ;threads 60 of the fabric of said portions.

After the formation of the full-fashioned fiat knit blank 12 as aforedescribed, the portions 14 and 16 are secured together in the manner now to be described. The portions 14 and 16 are stitched together along the peripherally extending edges 32 to form a seam 48 as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Thus the free selvage edges 32 of blank 12 are stitched together by stitching 48, the stitching or seam 48 extending from the point 34 of the toe end 22 to the peripheral point 36' in the heel part 24 of footlet 10. Thus the outside peripherally extending selvage edges 32 are united by a seam 48 which extends along a peripheral line substantially from the toe end of the blank to the region of the heel end thereof. The peripheral edge 52 which extends from the peripheral point 36' to the point 54 of heel part 24, is formed by a simultaneous cutting and sewing operation whereby the fabric area 56 outside of said peripheral edge will be cut away. Accordingly, after the selvage edges 32 are secured together in the aforedescribed manner the heel part 24 will be simultaneously .cut and sewn from the peripheral point 36' to define the peripheral edge 52, which constitutes a continuation of the seam 43. From the above it will be 'or footlet on the wearers foot. it will'be apparent that the footlet 1'8 will have full-' fashionednarrowings 26" and 28 at the toe and heel. It will also.

Since elastic yarn 46 is interknit with aplurality of' threads 60 of the knitfabric blank 12, the marginal edges 42 of foot opening 44' will be of spiral formation inthe relaxed condition of said edges. as clearly shown in Fig; 5.

7 Thus the marginal edge 42 of the foot opening 44 will" assume a spiral formation in the relaxedconditicn therc of and the foot opening 44 will be of a finished and aesthetically attractive appearance. Furthermore the'foot opening744 will have a high-degree of elasticity whereby to facilitate the placing of the foot covering articleZlO on the Wearers foot and the removal therefrom, as will be readily'understood. -Thus the continuously elasticized foot opening 44 may be stretched a substantial amount to'facilitate the-placement of the foot covering article From the above end regions, respectively, of the footlet 19. be apparent that the toe region 22 of the footlet 10 will have a looping line 30, said looping line and said fullfashionednarrowings being initially formed in blank 12 in the knitting thereof on a conventional full-fashioned hosierymachine. It is to be noted that the toe portion 22 of. the footlet 10 is of seamless integral construction except for the seam 48 at the base of said toe portion.

The. foot covering article 10, formed accordingto the method aforedescr ibed, comprises a knitted blank '12 formed ofelastic nylon, said blank havinga pairi'of similar integrally connected longitudinally extending portions '14 and-16; which have initially separated outside prising the steps of knitting a'flat blank of a predetermined size and shape having integral portions interconnected at opposite ends thereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending free edges and inside free marginal edges,'securing together said outside free edges of said portions from the region of one end thereof to a point short of the otherend thereof, and securing together said other end from said point to form a fOOt Covering article having-a foot opening communiperipherally extending selvage edges 32, thelatter being united by the seam '48 which extends longitudinally from one end 34'- of the blank 12 to a point 36 at the opposite I end thereof; As aforedescribed, the securement together of the portions 14 and 16 is completed by a simultaneous cutting-and sewing operation to form the seamed edge52 which extends from the peripheral point 36 to the point 54. Thus. theselvage edges 32 are united by a seam 48 along a peripheral line extending substantially from one.

endfof the blank 12 to the region of an opposite end thereof to form the foot covering article 10 which has a foot opening 44 which communicates with the interior foot receiving compartment 58. As aforenoted, thefoot opening .44 is defined by inside continuous longitudinally extending elasticized marginal edges 42 of the portions 14' and 16." The blank 12 may be initially knitin the'flat with a conventional stitch or a non-run stitch on a. fullfashioned hosiery machine.

. is substantially no surplus material in'the'knitting of blank 12and there is accordingly very little trimming required to thus minimize waste. The article it} formed as afore described will have a very neat and aesthetically attrac-i tive appearance, it being notedthat" the upper toeregion 23Jof article 10 is of, seamless construction and accordingly presents a very attractive appearance on the'wearers foot. i r

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be understood-that Since the foot covering article or footlet 10 is of full-fashioned construction as various changes may be made in the ide'aor principles, of

the invention within the scope of the appended'claims;

- Having thus described my invention, what I claimand" desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A method of making afoot covering article, comeating with an interior foot receiving compartment, said foot opening being defined by said inside marginal'edges.

2. A method of making a foot covering article, comprising the steps of knitting a full-fashioned flat blank of elasticnylon of a predetermined size and shape having integral portions interconnected at opposite ends thereof with said portions having outsideperipherally extending free edges and inside free marginal edges, securing together said outside free edges of said portions from the .region of one end thereof to a point shortof the other endthereof, and securing together said other end from said point to form a foot covering article having a foot opening communicating with an interior foot receiving compartment, said foot Opening being defined by said inside marginal edges.

3. A methodof making a foot covering article, com prisingthe steps of knittinga fiat blank of a predetermined size and" shape having integral portions interconnected at opposite ends thereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending free edges and inside elasticized'freelmarginal edges, stitching together said outside free edges of said portions from the region of one end thereof to a point, short of the other end thereof, and stitching together said. other end from said point to form-a foot, covering article having a foot opening communicating with an interior foot receiving compartment,

said footopening being defined by said inside marginal edges.

4. A method of making a foot covering article, comprising the steps of knitting a full-fashioned fiat blank of elastic nylon ofa 'predetermined size and shape having integral portions interconnected at opposite endsthereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending free selvage edges extending at least from the region of one-end thereof to a point short of the other end'thercof and inside elasticized free marginal edges, stitching together said free selvage edges, andstitching together-said other end from said point to form a foot covering article having a foot 0pening,.the latter being definedsby said elasticized marginal edges. I

'5; A method of making a foot covering article, com:

prising the steps of knitting a full-fashioned fiat blank of elastic nylon of a predetermined size and shape having integral portions interconnectedat opposite ends thereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending free selvage edges extending, at least fromithe region of one end thereof to a point short of the other. end thereof and inside free marginal edges having elastic yarn interknit therewith to define continuous elasticized free marginal edges, stitching together said free selvageiedges, and stitching together said other end from said point to form a foot covering article having a foot opening, the, latter being defined by said elasticized marginal edges.

6. A method of making a foot covering article, comprising the steps of knittingga full-fashioned flat blank. ofelastic nylon of a predetermined size andshape having integral portions interconnected atfoppositeends' thereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending.

free selvage edges extending at least from the regionof oneend thereof to a point short of the other end thereof and, inside elasticized free marginal edges, stitching to-- gethersaid free selvage edges, and simultaneously stitch.- ing together and cutting said other end from said point to form a foot covering article having a foot opening, the

latter being defined by said. elasticized marginal edges.

7-. A. method ofmaking 'a foot covering article, com- 7 5 prising the steps of knitting a full-fashioned flat blank of elastic nylon of a predetermined size and shape having integral portions interconnected at opposite ends thereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending free selvage edges extending at least from the region of one end thereof to a point short of the other end thereof and inside elasticized free marginal edges, said flat blank having full-fashioned narrowings at both ends thereof and a looping line in the region of said one end, stitching together said free selvage edges and stitching together said other end from said point to form a foot covering article having a foot opening, the latter being defined by said elasticized marginal edges.

8. A method of making a foot covering article, comprising the steps of knitting a full-fashioned flat blank of elastic nylon of a predetermined size and shape having integral portions interconnected at opposite ends thereof with said portions having outside peripherally extending free selvage edges extending at least from the region of one end thereof to a point short of the other end thereof and inside elasticized free marginal edges, said fiat blank having full-fashioned narrowings at both ends thereof and a looping line in the region of said one end, stitching together said free selvage edges and simultaneously stitching together and cutting said other end from said point to form a foot covering article having a foot opening, the latter being defined by said elasticized marginal edges.

formed of elastic nylon and having a pair of similar longitudinally extending portions interconnected at opposite ends thereof and having initially separated outside peripherally extending selvage edges and inside free marginal edges, said outside edges being united by a seam along a peripheral 'line extending substantially from one end of said blank to the region of the opposite end thereof to form a foot covering article having a foot opening communicating with an interior foot receiving compartment, said foot opening being defined by said inside marginal edges of said portions, said knitted blank having full-fashioned narrowings at said one end thereof and in the region of the opposite end thereof and a looping line in the region of said one end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,912,539 Paul June 6, 1933 1,936,064 Mills Nov. 21, 1933 2,001,293 Wilson May 14, 1935 2,304,053 Kaufman Dec. 1, 1942 2,641,914 Neumager June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 114,599 Australia Feb. 12, 1942 725,957 France May 20, 1932 797,252 France Apr. 23, 1936 1,003,221

France Nov. 14, 1951 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE @EE'HFICATE OF QORRECTZON Patent To 2,848,885 August 26, 1958 Norman Goodman It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the sheet of drawing, line 2, and in the heading to the printed specification, line 2, title of invention, for "FOOTI-ETS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAlE read FOOT COVERING ARTICLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME in the printed specification, column 1, line 16, strike out "or footlets"; line 58, strike out "or footle't"; column 2, lines 2 and 59, for "footlet" read the foot covering article same column, lines 4 and 32, for "footlet" read w foot covering article column 3, lines 20 and 54, strike out or footlet; lines 21, 23 24, and 29, strike out "footlet" each occurrence, and insert instead foot covering article lines 55 and 56 strike out "Fo'otlets" and insert instead The foot covering articles e Signed and sealed this 14th day of April 1959,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSt Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pete! 

